CENTRAL DISTRICTS MĀORI took its first steps together as a team at Easter weekend's NZC Māori National Tournament - the first Domestic cricket tournament of its kind.

Led by Taranaki's JARRED CUNNINGHAM and managed and coached by Manawatū's HAYDEN ROBINSON, the team competed in four T20s on Saturday and Sunday in Whangārei, after a bye in Good Friday's first round.

Tāmaki Makaurau Māori went on to become New Zealand's first Māori national cricket champions, lifting the beautiful carved trophy undefeated.

For CD Māori, it was the opposite set of results, but the team had pushed the eventual champions hard at Kensington Park where Tāmaki Makaurau chased down their target with just three balls to spare.

CD Māori finished off with another tight loss to Northern Māori, all on the line with both teams having been seeking their first win in the last round.

Despite the frustration of finishing without a 'W', it was a significant and moving experience for all players, who were hosted on a local marae, Pehiāwere.

The first edition of the team was drawn from six of CD's eight Districts, with an age range that spanned from 16 to 36. Most of the players met at the airport on the way to the tournament, yet quickly bonded as a new group.

The team's fight did not go unnoticed, opening paceman ZACK BENTON and opening batter BAILEY TE TOMO honoured with selection in the 12-strong Team of the Tournament at the prizegiving.

The duo was among four Horowhenua-Kāpiti representatives in the CD side.

Te Tomo top-scored with 79 off 65 balls, including seven fours and four sixes, in the lively contest on a windy, weather-hit morning at Kensington against Tāmaki Makaurau, and backed up that afternoon with 40 off just 25 (five boundaries and a six) against Northern.

Benton meanwhile made regular breakthroughs at the top across the tournament, with a return of 3/20 against the eventual champions among his seven T20 wickets.

The inaugural Tournament Team was selected by Northern Districts Life Member and longtime selector Pat Malcon who was instrumental in founding Northern Māori’s pioneering Domestic Māori men’s side in the 2010/11 season.

The tournament was capped off by an Easter Monday visit to Waitangi and Paihia for those who could make it - the site of New Zealand’s earliest known cricket match in December 1832 which featured both Māori and Pākehā schoolboys. 

Said Tāmaki Makaurau captain Dusan Hakaraia, “Māori have embraced cricket from the very beginning, but to have a tournament like this - it brings it all together.

“I would have loved to have been able to play in a tournament like this as a young fella.

"As I am sure is true of all the teams and players, it means so much to have been part of it this weekend.”

 

 

There was a special moment as formalities wrapped up at Kaka Porowini mārae, TAINE HALBERT leading a haka in recognition of the efforts of NZC Kaupapa Māori, Diversity and Inclusion Lead ANDREW TARA to bring the long-awaited tournament into existence.

The first female NZC Māori National Tournament is planned for Labour Weekend 2023 with future NZC Māori initiatiaves also in the pipeline.

NZC Māori National Tournament

Player of the Tournament | Kaitākaro o te Whakataetae

Jock McKenzie, Tāmaki Makaurau Māori, Ngāti Maniapoto

NZC Māori National Tournament Team | Tīma o te Whakataetae 2023

Zack Benton - Central Districts Māori, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu

Ben Brady - Tāmaki Makaurau Māori, Ngāi Tahu

Fraser Campbell - Tāmaki Makaurau Māori, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga

Curtis Cherrington - Northern Māori, Ngāpuhi

Jock McKenzie - Tāmaki Makaurau Māori, Ngāti Maniapoto

Ethan Price - Northern Māori; Ngāpuhi

Charlie Robson - Te Waipounamu; Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu

Mitch Scott - Te Whanganui-a-Tara; Ngāti Rangiwewehi

Jesse Tashkoff - Te Whanganui-a-Tara; Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti

Bailey Te Tomo - Central Districts Māori; Ngāti Raukawa

Alex Thompson - Te Whanganui-a-Tara; Ngāpuhi

Oscar Wilson - Te Waipounamu; Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāi Tahu

RESULTS

Detailed match results available at NZC PlayHQ

• Round One (Friday, 7 April 2023)

Northern Māori 128/8 (20) lost to Tāmaki Makaurau Māori 132/7 (19.4)

Te Whanganui-a-Tara 163/8 (20) beat Te Waipounamu 149/6 (20)

Bye: Central Districts Māori

• Round Two (Saturday, 8 April 2023)

Te Whanganui-a-Tara 184/3 (20) beat Central Districts Māori 117/8 (20)

Te Waipounamu 193/5 (20) beat Northern Māori 117 (16.2)

Bye: Tāmaki Makaurau Māori

• Round Three (Saturday, 8 April 2023)

Te Whanganui-a-Tara 187/7 (20) lost to Tāmaki Makaurau Māori 190/2 (17.5)

Central Districts Māori 101/9 (20) lost to Te Waipounamu 102/3 (12.2)

Bye: Northern Māori

• Round Four (Sunday, 9 April 2023)

Northern Māori 142/3 (18, match reduced to 18 overs) lost to Te Whanganui-a-Tara 148/7 (17.3)

Central Districts Māori 136/4 (18, match reduced to 18 overs) lost to Tāmaki Makaurau Māori 137/4 (17.3)

Bye: Te Waipounamu

• Round Five (Sunday, 9 April 2023)

Central Districts Māori 124/6 (16, match reduced to 16 overs) lost to Northern Māori 126/4 (14.1)

Te Waipounamu 95 (18, match reduced to 18 overs) lost to Tāmaki Makaurau Māori 98/0 (12.5)

Bye: Te Whanganui-a-Tara

NZC Māori National Tournament - Final Standings

1. Tāmaki Makaurau Māori (16 points, 4 wins)

2. Te Whanganui-a-Tara (12 points, 3 wins, 1 loss)

3. Te Waipounamu (8 points, 2 wins, 2 losses)

4. Northern Māori (4 points, 1 win, 3 losses)

5. Central Districts Māori (0 points, 4 losses)

 

 

Central Districts Māori Squad 2023        

Jarred Cunningham (c), Aiden Clark, Dustin Emms-Healey, Taine Halbert, Bayley Latter, Rian Lyver, Jamie Marshall, Angus McKnight, Charlie Pawson, Samuel Payne, Jerome Robinson, Bailey Te Tomo

Coach: Hayden Robinson

Article added: Tuesday 11 April 2023